Light amount adjusting device, imaging optical system, and image capturing apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is provided with a light amount adjusting device. The light adjusting device has a plurality of optical filter elements. The plurality of optical filter elements have different light transmittances. Reflected light colors from the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.

This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2013/005134 filed on Aug. 30, 2013, and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-192229 filed on Aug. 31, 2012, the entire content of both of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a light amount adjusting device, an imaging optical system, and an image capturing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

The imaging system of a digital camera, a video camera, or the like conventionally includes an image sensor and a mechanism that adjusts the amount of light incident on the image sensor. An example of the mechanism that adjusts the light amount is a stop device. The stop device drives diaphragm blades and adjusts the opening diameter in accordance with the luminance of an object, thereby adjusting the amount of light incident on the image sensor. When the luminance of the object is high, the opening diameter needs to be small. However, when the opening has a predetermined diameter or less, image quality may degrade due to a hunting phenomenon or diffraction of light. A recent image sensor has a high sensitivity, and the demand for further light amount suppression is growing.

For this purpose, a light attenuation filter having an almost even transmittance within the wavelength range of visible light (400 to 700 nm), for example, an ND (Neutral Density) filter is used. More specifically, when the ND filter is arranged near the diaphragm blades, the amount of light incident on the image sensor can be attenuated while maintaining the opening diameter. There are, for example, an ND filter made by mass-coloring glass or plastic with a pigment or dye and an ND filter formed by stacking a plurality of inorganic films on a substrate by vacuum deposition, sputtering, or the like. Considering the optical characteristic and the environmental characteristic, the latter ND filter is generally used in the imaging optical system.

There has been developed a technology of providing a plurality of ND filters in the imaging optical system and switching the ND filter to be inserted into the optical path in accordance with the luminance of an object (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-222042). Also developed is a technology of providing regions of different light transmittances in one ND filter and switching the region to be inserted into the optical path in accordance with the luminance of an object (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-295015).

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention, a light amount adjusting device comprises a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances, wherein reflected light colors from the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a light amount adjusting device comprises at least three ND filter elements having different light transmittances, wherein all of reflected light colors from each of the at least three ND filter elements are substantially equal.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, an imaging optical system comprises a light amount adjusting device, wherein the light amount adjusting device comprises a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances, and reflected light colors from the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, an image capturing apparatus comprises an imaging optical system, wherein the imaging optical system a light amount adjusting device, the light amount adjusting device comprises a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances, and reflected light colors from the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.

According to yet still another embodiment of the invention, an imaging optical system comprises a light amount adjusting device, wherein the light amount adjusting device comprises at least three ND filter elements having different light transmittances, and all of reflected light colors from each of the at least three ND filter elements are substantially equal.

According to still yet another embodiment of the invention, an image capturing apparatus comprises an imaging optical system, wherein the imaging optical system a light amount adjusting device, the light amount adjusting device comprises a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances, and reflected light colors from the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an imaging optical system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a light amount adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the reflection spectra of optical filters used in an experimental example;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing human visual sensitivities;

FIG. 5A is a graph obtained by multiplying a reflection characteristic by a human visual sensitivity;

FIG. 5B is a graph obtained by multiplying a reflection characteristic by a human visual sensitivity;

FIG. 5C is a graph obtained by multiplying a reflection characteristic by a human visual sensitivity;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a light amount adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the reflection characteristic of an optical filter according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an image capturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view showing masks used to form an optical filter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the optical filter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the optical filter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the optical filter according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the reflection characteristic of the optical filter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

When a light attenuation filter is used in the imaging optical system, a ghost is readily formed. Especially when switching the light attenuation filter, the formed ghost gives a large sense of discomfort to the photographer.

Some embodiments of the present invention enable reduction of a sense of discomfort that a ghost gives to a photographer when switching an optical filter in accordance with the luminance of an object.

The present inventors found that a sense of discomfort that a photographer feels due to a ghost is reduced by substantially equalizing the reflected light colors of light attenuation filters and achieved the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates an imaging optical system 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The imaging optical system 20 includes lenses 1 and 4 to 6, a light amount adjusting device 9, and an image sensor 7. Incident light passes through the lenses 1 and 4 to 6 and the light amount adjusting device 9 and enters the image sensor 7. The image sensor 7 converts the incident light into an electrical signal representing an image.

The light amount adjusting device 9 includes a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances. The amount of light incident on the image sensor 7 can be adjusted by switching the optical filter element inserted in the optical path.

The optical filter element is a member that adjusts light transmission. The plurality of optical filter elements may be held on a single substrate and constructed as one optical filter. The plurality of optical filter elements may be constructed as separate members. In this embodiment, the light amount adjusting device includes an optical filter in which one or more optical filter elements are arranged. For example, the light amount adjusting device 9 may include a plurality of optical filters, and the plurality of optical filter elements may be arranged on the separate optical filters, respectively.

Alternatively, the light amount adjusting device may include one optical filter, and the plurality of optical filter elements may be arranged on the one optical filter. In this embodiment, a plurality of optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a are arranged on separate optical filters 10 to 13, respectively.

In this embodiment, the light amount adjusting device 9 includes the four optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a. However, the number of optical filter elements provided in the light amount adjusting device 9 is not limited to this, and two or more optical filter elements suffice. The optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a have optical densities that are different from each other. That is, the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a have different light transmittances. Such an optical filter element can be a light attenuation filter such as an ND filter. For example, the light amount adjusting device 9 may include three or more ND filter elements having different light transmittances. The reflected light colors of the plurality of optical filter elements, that is, the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a substantially equal. In the present invention, “reflected light colors substantially equal” preferably means, for example, that the reflected light colors of the plurality of optical filters equal within the range of a region where colors are regarded as even and identified as colors of the same system under various identification conditions and also within the range of color differences of marking pens, as shown in Table 2 to be described later. More preferably, the reflected light colors equal within the range where colors are regarded as almost the same by time-course comparison. More preferably, the reflected light colors equal within the range where colors are determined to be within the tolerance in consideration of various kinds of error factors. More preferably, the reflected light colors equal within the indistinguishable range where color differences cannot be discriminated by measurements.

The light amount adjusting device 9 further includes a driving unit 15 (moving means) capable of inserting and retracting each optical filter element into and from the optical path, that is, arranging and removing each optical filter element in and from the optical path. In FIG. 1, an optical filter 3 that is one of the four optical filters is inserted in the optical path. The light amount adjusting device 9 changes the optical filter arranged in the optical path, that is, changes the optical filter element arranged in the optical path using the driving unit 15, thereby controlling the amount of light incident on the image sensor 7. The optical filter to be arranged in the optical path can be decided in consideration of the amount of light incident on the image sensor 7, the diameter of diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b, and the like.

For example, the imaging optical system 20 may include a light amount control unit 8 or may be communicably connected to the light amount control unit 8. The light amount control unit 8 decides the optical filter to be arranged in the optical path so as to optimize the amount of light incident on the image sensor 7 based on light amount information obtained from the image sensor 7, the position information of the diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b, and the like. Based on this decision, the light amount adjusting device 9 can change the optical filter arranged in the optical path.

The light amount adjusting device 9 may further include the diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b. The diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b form the opening of the optical path of the imaging optical system 20. The diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b can be arranged in consideration of the amount of light incident on the image sensor 7, the diameter of the diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b, and the like. For example, the light amount control unit 8 may acquire the position information of the diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b. The light amount control unit 8 may drive the diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b so as to obtain an optimum opening based on the light amount information obtained from the image sensor 7, the position information of the diaphragm blades 2 a and 2 b, and the like.

The light amount adjusting device 9 will be described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. In the light amount adjusting device 9 shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of optical filters 10 to 13 can independently enter/retreat in/from the optical path. As shown in FIG. 2, the driving unit 15 can switch the position of each of the optical filters 10 to 13 between the position on the optical path and that outside the optical path. As described above, each of the optical filters 10 to 13 includes an optical filter element (for example, optical filter element 10 a) to be inserted into the optical path to cover the opening.

Another embodiment of the light amount adjusting device 9 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In the light amount adjusting device 9 shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a are arranged like a turret. More specifically, the plurality of optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a are circularly arranged on a disc. When the driving unit 15 rotates the disc, a desired optical filter element is inserted into the optical path. To reduce the sense of discomfort of the photographer upon switching the optical filter element, the optical filter elements are preferably arranged on the disc in the order of the magnitude of transmittance.

In this embodiment, the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a provided in the light amount adjusting device 9 have different light transmittances. The reflected light colors of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a substantially equal. When the light amount adjusting device 9 includes the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a of such a combination, the sense of discomfort that a ghost gives to the photographer can be reduced even upon switching the optical filter element.

More specifically, it was found that when the reflected light colors of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a substantially equal, the color of a ghost hardly changes upon switching the optical filter element. It is believed that this reduces the sense of discomfort given to the photographer.

The present inventors estimate as follows the reason why the color of a ghost hardly changes even upon switching the optical filter element when the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a of the above combination are used. That is, the ghost is assumed to be formed by light reflection near the image sensor. For example, a ghost can be formed when light that has passed through the optical filter element and the lenses once is reflected near the image sensor and reflected by the optical filter element and the lenses again and then enters the image sensor. In particular, since the optical filter element has a high reflectance as compared to the lenses and the like and readily causes a ghost, it is considered that the correlation between the color of the ghost and the reflected light colors of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a becomes large.

For this reason, the reflected light colors on the image sensor-side surfaces of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a on the image sensor side probably especially affect the color of the ghost. From this viewpoint, the reflected light colors on the image sensor-side surfaces of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a preferably substantially equal. However, the reflected light colors on the object-side surfaces of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a are also considered to affect the color of the ghost. This is because a ghost can be formed even when, for example, light reflected by the object-side surface of one of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a and further reflected by the lens 1 enters the image sensor 7. From this viewpoint, the reflected light colors on the object-side surfaces of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a also preferably substantially equal. More preferably, the reflected light colors on the image sensor-side surfaces of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a substantially equal, and additionally, the reflected light colors on the object-side surfaces of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a substantially equal.

Out of the plurality of optical filter elements, two optical filter elements having transmittances close to each other preferably have substantially equal reflected light colors. Here, “two optical filter elements having transmittances close to each other” indicate two (a set of) optical filter elements that are located adjacent to each other when the plurality of optical filter elements are arranged in the order of the magnitude of transmittance. In this embodiment, the transmittances of the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a are assumed to have a relationship represented by optical filter element 10 a>optical filter element 11 a>optical filter element 12 a>optical filter element 13 a. In this case, “two optical filter elements having transmittances close to each other” indicate the set of the optical filter elements 10 a and 11 a, the set of the optical filter elements 11 a and 12 a, or the set of the optical filter elements 12 a and 13 a. The reflected light colors preferably substantially equal for at least one of the sets of optical filter elements. In this case, it is possible to reduce the sense of discomfort that the ghost gives to the photographer when performing switching between the two optical filter elements having transmittances close to each other. More preferably, the reflected light colors substantially equal for all of the sets of optical filter elements.

As another detailed example, the reflected light colors preferably substantially equal for all of the plurality of optical filter elements.

The expression “reflected light colors substantially equal” will be explained below. The reflected light color means the surface color of an optical filter element when light strikes its surface. A case where a human can visually determine reflected light colors as equal is also included in “reflected light colors substantially equal”. If a human cannot visually distinguish reflected light colors, the reflected light colors can be identified as substantially equal or the same. Hence, this case is also included in “reflected light colors substantially equal”. Note that the reflected light color can be observed using, for example, D₆₅ as the light source by setting the incident angle to 5° and the reflection angle to 5°.

The reflected light colors can be considered as substantially equal when the color difference between the reflected light colors is 10 or less, more preferably, 5 or less, more preferably, 0.6 or less, and particularly preferably, 0.2 or less. That is, for the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a, preferably, the reflected light colors substantially equal, and the color difference between the reflected light colors is 10 or less, more preferably, 5 or less. More specifically, for the optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a, the color difference between the reflected light colors on the image sensor-side surfaces is preferably 10 or less, more preferably, 5 or less. In addition, the color difference in the reflected light colors is preferably 10 or less, more preferably, 5 or less between two optical filter elements having transmittances close to each other. Furthermore, the color difference in the reflected light colors is preferably 10 or less, more preferably, 5 or less between all optical filter elements. When such a condition is satisfied, it is possible to reduce the sense of discomfort that the ghost gives to the photographer when switching the optical filter element. Here, the color difference is calculated from a CIE 2000 color difference formula to be described later. D₆₅ is used as the light source, and an incident angle of 5° and a sensitivity in a 10-degree visual field are used.

More specifically, the color difference in the reflected light colors on the image sensor-side surfaces is preferably 10 or less between all optical filter elements, and the color difference in the reflected light colors on the image sensor-side surfaces is preferably 5 or less between two optical filter elements having transmittances close to each other. This arrangement can reduce the sense of discomfort given to the photographer even when sequentially switching optical filters having transmittances close to each other.

In this embodiment, the color difference between the reflected light colors indicates, for example, a color difference obtained in accordance with the CIE 2000 color difference formula. The color difference can also be calculated using a CIE L*a*b* color difference formula represented by equation (1) below. However, to more accurately evaluate the color difference that a human can visually perceive, the CIE 2000 color difference formula represented by equation (2) below, which considers the human visual sensitivity better, is preferably used. The color difference between the reflected light colors of the optical filter elements based on the CIE 2000 color difference formula can be said to be almost on the same level as a color difference based on human vision.

[Mathematical 1]

ΔE* _(ab)=[(ΔL*)²+(Δa*)²+(Δb*)²]^(1/2)  (1)

[Mathematical 2]

ΔE* ₀₀=[(ΔL*/(K _(L) ·S _(L)))²+(ΔC* _(ab)/(K _(C) ·S _(C)))²+(ΔH* _(ab)/(K _(H) ·S _(H)))²+(R _(T)(ΔC* _(ab)/(K _(C) ·S _(C)))·(ΔH* _(ab)/(K _(H) ·S _(H))))]^(1/2)  (2)

where

ΔL*, ΔC*, ΔH*: color difference values with respect to a reference color in the L*a*b* color system

K_(L), K_(C), K_(H): parametric coefficients

S_(L), S_(C), S_(H): weighting coefficients

R_(T): rotation function

The parametric coefficients K_(L), K_(C), and K_(H) represent a brightness coefficient, a chroma coefficient, and a hue coefficient, respectively, which are constants arbitrarily set by test conditions.

The weighting coefficients S_(L), S_(C), and S_(H) are given by

[Mathematical 3]

S _(L)=1+0.015(L*−50)²/(20+(L*−50)²)^(1/2)  (3)

S _(C)=1+0.045 C* _(ab)  (4)

S _(H)=1+0.015 C* _(ab) L*  (5)

The rotation coefficient R_(T) is given by

[Mathematical 4]

R _(T)=−sin(2Δθ)R _(C)  (6)

Δθ and R_(C) are given by

[Mathematical 5]

Δθ=30exp{−[(h _(ab)−275)/25]²}

R _(C)=2[( C* _(ab))⁷/(( C* _(ab))⁷)+25⁷)]^(1/2)

where h: metric color difference of a reference sample

The color of a ghost that occurs in the imaging optical system is probably affected by the sensitivity of the image sensor. However, the sensitivity of the image sensor to visible light is relatively close to the sensitivity of a human eye. For this reason, the color difference between the reflected light colors calculated by the CIE 2000 color difference formula represents a change in the tint of the ghost upon switching the optical filter element well.

A human can recognize a color because of a sensation corresponding to the primary colors of light, that is, “red”, “green”, and “blue”. A human eye has different sensitivities to “red”, “green”, and “blue”. FIG. 4 is a graph showing human eye sensitivities to “red”, “green”, and “blue”. In the graph, “xbar”, “ybar”, and “zbar” are the sensitivities to “red”, “green”, and “blue”, respectively. A color that a human visually recognizes from light having a predetermined reflection spectrum is determined in accordance with an area ratio obtained by multiplying the reflection spectrum by “xbar”, “ybar”, and “zbar”. For example, FIG. 5A is a graph obtained by multiplying a reflection spectrum indicated as “reference” in FIG. 3 by “xbar”. FIG. 5B is a graph obtained by multiplying the reflection spectrum by “ybar”. FIG. 5C is a graph obtained by multiplying the reflection spectrum by “zbar”.

The color visually recognized by a human is determined by the areas of regions “X”, “Y”, and “Z” indicated by hatching in FIGS. 5A to 5C. That is, when the areas of the regions “X”, “Y”, and “Z” measured for the reflection spectra of the optical filter elements substantially equal, the reflected light colors of the optical filter elements substantially equal. For this reason, even when the optical filter element is switched, the change in the tint of the ghost is small, and the sense of discomfort given to the photographer can be reduced. The graphs in FIG. 4 correspond to color matching functions defined by CIE, and the areas of “X”, “Y”, and “Z” correspond to tristimulus values. The reflection spectrum represents the reflectance of an optical filter element on a wavelength basis. Here, the reflection spectrum is measured at an incident angle to 5° and a reflection angle to 5°.

As described above, the areas of “X”, “Y”, and “Z” obtained in the above-described manner preferably substantially equal between the plurality of optical filter elements. More specifically,

ΔY≦25  (7)

{(“X”/“Y”)max/(“X”/“Y”)min}≦2  (8)

{(“Z”/“Y”)max/(“Z”/“Y”)min}≦5  (9)

are preferably satisfied.

In equations (7) to (9), ΔY is the difference between the maximum value of “Y” and the minimum value or “Y” for all optical filter elements mounted in the light amount adjusting device. (“X”/“Y”)max and (“X”/“Y”)min are the maximum value of (“X”/“Y”) and the minimum value of (“X”/“Y”) for all optical filter elements mounted in the light amount adjusting device. (“Z”/“Y”)max and (“Z”/“Y”)min are the maximum value of (“Z”/“Y”) and the minimum value of (“Z”/“Y”) for all optical filter elements mounted in the light amount adjusting device.

In addition, the areas of “X”, “Y”, and “Z” preferably substantially equal between two optical filter elements having transmittances close to each other out of the optical filter elements mounted in the light amount adjusting device. More specifically,

ΔY≦12.5  (10)

{(“X”/“Y”)max/(“X”/“Y”)min}≦1.5  (11)

{(“Z”/“Y”)max/(“Z”/“Y”)min}≦2.5  (12)

are preferably satisfied.

In equations (10) to (12), ΔY is the difference between a larger “Y” and a smaller “Y” for the two optical filter elements. (“X”/“Y”)max and (“X”/“Y”)min are a larger (“X”/“Y”) and a smaller (“X”/“Y”) for the two optical filter elements. (“Z”/“Y”)max and (“Z”/“Y”)min are a larger (“Z”/“Y”) and a smaller (“Z”/“Y”) for the two optical filter elements.

Furthermore, the reflectances preferably substantially equal between the plurality of optical filter elements. The magnitude of the reflectance of an optical filter element is considered to affect the intensity of a ghost. Hence, in this case, the intensity of a formed ghost rarely changes between the plurality of optical filter elements. Since the intensity of the ghost rarely changes even when the optical filter element is switched, the sense of discomfort given to the photographer can further be reduced.

More preferably, the reflection spectra substantially equal between the plurality of optical filter elements. That the reflection spectra substantially equal between the plurality of optical filter elements means that the reflectances substantially equal between the plurality of optical filter elements for light of various wavelengths. Hence, the sense of discomfort given to the photographer can further be reduced under various shooting conditions. When the reflected light colors are substantially equalized between the plurality of optical filter elements, and the reflection spectrums are substantially equalized between the plurality of optical filter elements, as described above, the sense of discomfort given to the photographer can be reduced more efficiently. For example, the maximum reflectance difference is preferably 1.0% or less, more preferably, 0.5% or less between the optical filter element having the highest maximum reflectance and that having the lowest maximum reflectance out of the optical filter elements mounted in the light amount adjusting device. The maximum reflectance is a reflectance at a wavelength of the highest reflectance within a light wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm.

Experimental Example

Experiments were conducted to examine the influence of the color difference in the reflected light colors between optical filter elements on a photographer. More specifically, four optical filters were prepared. The optical filters respectively include optical filter elements having equal light transmittances. The reflection spectrum of the first optical filter is indicated by “reference” in FIG. 3. The reflection spectra of the second to fourth optical filters are indicated by “color difference 5”, “color difference 10”, and “color difference 15” in FIG. 3, respectively. The color differences between the reflected light color of the first optical filter and the reflected light colors of the second, third, and fourth optical filters, which are calculated by the CIE 2000 color difference formula, are 5, 10, and 15, respectively. To calculate the color differences, D₆₅ was used as the light source, the incident angle was set to 5°, a sensitivity in a 10-degree visual field was used, and all the parametric coefficients K_(L), K_(C), and K_(H) were set to 1. The above reflection spectra and reflected light colors were measured on the image sensor-side surfaces of the optical filters.

The first optical filter and the second to fourth optical filters were incorporated in a single light amount adjusting device. That is, the light amount adjusting device includes four optical filter elements. The light amount adjusting device was incorporated in an imaging optical system. An image captured by an image sensor provided in the imaging optical system was presented to the photographer via a display unit. It was visually evaluated whether a color change of a ghost was perceived upon changing the optical filter inserted in the optical path from the first optical filter to each of the second to fourth optical filters. Table 1 shows the result. “Color difference 5” shows the result obtained upon changing from the first optical filter to the second optical filter, “color difference 10” shows the result obtained upon changing from the first optical filter to the third optical filter, and “color difference 15” shows the result obtained upon changing from the first optical filter to the fourth optical filter. Note that in the optical filters of “color difference 5”, “color difference 10”, and “color difference 15” shown in Table 1, the color differences were 4.3, 9.0, and 14.8 in a 2-degree visual field.

TABLE 1 Color difference 5 10 15 Evaluation ⊚ ◯ X

In Table 1, ⊚ represents that there was no sense of discomfort as all, and switching of the optical filter was unnoticed. ◯ represents that there was almost no sense of discomfort, and the tint did not so largely change although switching of the optical filter was noticed. x represents that there was a sense of discomfort, and the change in the tint upon switching the optical filter was clearly observed.

As shown in Table 1, when the color difference in the reflected light colors between the optical filters was 15 or more, the color change of the ghost upon switching the optical filter was perceived. On the other hand, when the color difference was 10 or less, the color change of the ghost gave no sense of discomfort to the photographer. When the color difference was 5 or less, the color change of the ghost was not recognized by the photographer.

As is apparent from the experiments, when the color difference between the reflected light colors on the surfaces on the image sensor side is 10 or less and, more particularly, 5 or less between the plurality of optical filters, the sense of discomfort of the photographer is reduced.

Optical filter switching is normally done between optical filters having adjacent transmittances. Hence, when the color difference in the reflected light colors on the image sensor side is decreased to 5 or less between the optical filters having adjacent transmittances, the sense of discomfort given to the photographer can be reduced dramatically.

It can also be considered that the switching of the optical filter is continuously done in a short period, for example, switching from the first filter to the second filter is performed, and switching from the second filter to the third filter is further performed. In this case as well, if the color difference in the reflected light colors is 10 or less between all optical filters, and the color difference in the reflected light colors is 5 or less between optical filters having adjacent transmittances, the photographer cannot recognize the filter switching and can also rarely recognize the change in the tint.

That is, if the reflected light colors of at least three optical filters to be continuously switched substantially equal, no sense of discomfort is given to the photographer. For example, in another embodiment, if the reflected light colors of at least three optical filters to be continuously switched in the order of the magnitude of transmittance substantially equal, and the number of optical filters that enter/retreat in/from the optical path increase from four to five or six or more, the color difference is allowed to some extent between all optical filters.

Table 2 shows classification of allowable color differences (see new version of Handbook of Color Science, 2nd edition, Color Science Association in Japan). As shown in Table 2, two colors having a color difference of 5 or less are recognized as almost the same color by time-course comparison. Ghost tints before and after switching of the optical filter are compared in time course, and the above-described experimental results match the contents of Table 2.

TABLE 2 Color difference Grade Remarks To 0.2 Immeasurable region To 0.3 Identifiable color Colorimetry reproduction difference accuracy of same object To 0.6 Grade 1 (strict Practical tolerance limit when color difference) various error factors are taken into consideration. To 1.2 Grade 2 (practical Most people can easily recognize color difference a) the color difference if samples are put side by side. Munsel grade AAA. OD colors of Defense Agency. To 2.5 Grade 3 (practical People can regard colors as color difference b) almost the same upon determining samples put apart. Munsel grade AA, JIS standard colors. To 5.0 Grade 4 People can regard colors as almost the same by time-course comparison. Munsel grade A. To 10.0 Grade 5 Marking pens (JIS 6037-1992) To 20.0 Grade 6 Management of colors on color name level. General rules of coating films for automobile parts (JIS D 0202 1988) Color difference of Railway crossing equipment (JIS E 3701- 1984) Stamp pads (JIS S 6016-1991) Pencils, colored pencils, and leads for mechanical pencils (JIS S 6005-1992) General rules of safety colors (JIS Z 9109-1986) Identification marking for piping systems Aerospace-Pipelines- Identification (JIS W 0601-1990)

A detailed example of this embodiment will be described below. A case where the light amount is adjusted using at least one ND filter (ND filter element) and at least one AR (Anti-Reflection) filter as a plurality of optical filter elements will be explained below. Here, the reflected light color of the ND filter and the reflected light color of the AR filter substantially equal.

The optical density of the AR filter is almost (the transmittance is almost 100%). More specifically, the light transmittance of the AR filter is preferably 90% or more, and more preferably, 95% or more. If the luminance of the object is high, and the light amount needs to be adjusted, the ND filter is inserted into the optical path. On the other hand, if the light amount need not be adjusted, the ND filter is removed from the optical path. In this case, defocusing may occur before and after removal of the ND filter. Defocusing caused by the presence/absence of the optical filter element is greatly affected by the thick transparent substrate of the filter. Hence, when the ND filter is removed, the AR filter having a similar transparent substrate is inserted instead, thereby reducing defocusing.

The AR filter is a filter having an anti-reflection function. In this example, the AR filter was designed such that the reflected light color of the ND filter and the reflected light color of the AR filter substantially equal. For this reason, the reflectance of the AR filter need not be very low. For example, for a wavelength of 450 to 650 nm that largely affects human color perception, the average reflectance of the AR filter can be 0.3% or more, or 0.5% or more. This can reduce the sense of discomfort of the photographer when switching is performed between the AR filter and the ND filter.

The light amount adjusting device 9 according to this example includes three ND filters and one AR filter as a plurality of optical filter elements. More specifically, the light amount adjusting device 9 includes an AR filter having an optical density of almost 0 (called ND_(—)00) and ND filters respectively having optical densities of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 (called ND_(—)05, ND_(—)10, and ND_(—)15, respectively). Letting T be the transmittance of a filter, the optical density (OD) is given by OD=Log(1/T). The higher the transmittance is, the lower the optical density is.

The optical filter element ND_(—)00 was formed by stacking a plurality of thin films having different refractive indices on a transparent substrate.

In recent years, a plastic substrate is used as a transparent substrate for the purpose of reducing the size and weight of an imaging optical system. Various kinds of materials can be used as the plastic substrate, and a polyester resin, norbornene resin, polyether resin, acrylic resin, styrene resin, and the like are usable. In addition, a PES (polyether sulphone) resin, polysulfone resin, PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) resin, PC (polycarbonate) resin, polyimide resin, and the like are also usable. A glass substrate may be used. In this example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) was used as the transparent substrate.

When using a plastic substrate, a plastic substrate having a high glass transition temperature Tg, a high elastic modulus in bending, and a low water absorbing property is preferably used in consideration of deformation due to membrane stress or thermal stress upon depositing a dielectric layer or a light absorption layer. The substrate is preferably as thin as possible within a range capable of maintaining rigidity. The thickness is preferably about 20 μm to 200 μm, and more preferably, about 25 μm to 100 μm. In this example, a substrate having a thickness of 50 μm was used.

The thin films on the transparent substrate of the optical filter element ND_(—)00 can be deposited using, for example, vacuum deposition, sputtering, ion plating, IAD, or the like. In this example, the thin films were deposited using vacuum deposition.

The optical filter elements ND_(—)05, ND_(—)10, and ND_(—)15 can be formed in accordance with a conventionally known method. In this example, each optical filter element was formed by stacking a dielectric film and a light absorption film on a transparent substrate using vacuum deposition. The reflected light colors substantially equal between the three ND filters.

The reflected light color of at least one ND filter and the reflected light color of the AR filter (ND_(—)00) preferably substantially equal because the sense of discomfort of the photographer upon switching the filter can be reduced. In particular, reflected light colors on the image sensor-side surfaces preferably substantially equal. Normally, switching is performed between the AR filter and the ND filter (ND_(—)05) having the lowest optical density. Hence, the reflected light color of the AR filter and the reflected light color of the ND filter (ND_(—)05) having the lowest optical density preferably substantially equal.

When the light amount adjusting device 9 has the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the AR filter may be arranged between two of the three ND filters or outside the group of the three ND filters. At any rate, the light amount can be adjusted by switching the ND filters and the AR filter. When the light amount adjusting device 9 has the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the AR filter is preferably arranged to be adjacent to the ND filter (ND_(—)05) having the lowest optical density to reduce the sense of discomfort of the photographer upon switching the filter.

When designing the AR filter, the reflectance is easily designed low as compared to the ND filters because the absorption characteristic of the filter need not be taken into consideration. In this example, however, the AR filter was designed in accordance with the reflection spectra of the remaining three ND filters. FIG. 7 shows the reflection spectra of the optical filter elements provided in the light amount adjusting device 9 of this example.

As for the color difference between optical filters having adjacent transmittances, the color difference in the reflected light colors between the AR filter and ND_(—)05 is 1.992, the color difference in the reflected light colors between ND_(—)05 and ND_(—)10 is 1.242, and the color difference in the reflected light colors between ND_(—)10 and ND_(—)15 is 1.607. The largest color difference in the reflected light colors among the four optical filter elements is the color difference in the reflected light colors between the AR filter and ND_(—)15, that is, 1.998. To calculate the color differences, the CIE 2000 color difference formula was used, D₆₅ was used as the light source, the incident angle was set to 5°, and a sensitivity in a 10-degree visual field was used as a condition.

The AR filter has a low light absorbance, and transmittance [%]+reflectance [%]≈100[%]. As shown in FIG. 7, when the reflectance of the AR filter at 500 to 600 nm is raised, the transmittance in this region lowers. However, since the AR filter has a very high transmittance, there is rarely an influence on the color balance even when the transmission characteristic is uneven to some extent.

In this example, the AR filter was formed by stacking thin films having different refractive indices on a transparent substrate, and each ND filter was formed by stacking a dielectric film and a light absorption film on a transparent substrate. The spectral characteristics of these optical filter elements are determined mainly by interference between the thin films or the absorption characteristics of the films. That is, the refractive index and extinction coefficient that are the material characteristics of each thin film, the film thickness of each layer, and the number of layers affect the spectral characteristic of an optical filter element. In this example, each optical filter element having a desired spectral characteristic was formed by appropriately adjusting these factors. The spectral characteristic of an optical filter element using interference between thin films changes depending on the incident angle of light. However, when the light amount adjusting device according to the present invention is used in the imaging optical system, the incident angle is only about 10° to 15°, and the reflected light color rarely changes.

Second Embodiment

A light amount adjusting device 9 according to another embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, a plurality of optical filter elements are held on a single substrate and constructed as one optical filter. That is, the light amount adjusting device according to this embodiment includes one optical filter, and a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances are arranged in the one optical filter.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the optical filter according to this embodiment. The optical filter shown in FIG. 12 includes four optical filter elements A to D. The optical filter element A forms an AR region having a function as an AR filter. The optical filter elements B to D from ND regions each having a function as an ND filter. The structure of the optical filter elements A to D is the same as the above-described optical filter elements 10 a to 13 a. That is, the reflected light colors of the optical filter elements A to D substantially equal. Additionally, the optical filter is designed such that the reflected light colors in the ND regions and the reflected light color in the AR region substantially equal.

The AR region may be arranged between two of the three ND regions or outside the group of the three ND regions. To efficiently switch the optical filter element, the optical filter element A, the optical filter element B, the optical filter element C, and the optical filter element D are preferably arranged in this order, as shown in FIG. 12.

A detailed example of this embodiment will be described below. In this example, the optical density of the optical filter element A (AR region called ND_(—)00) is almost 0, and the optical densities of the optical filter elements B to D (ND regions called ND_(—)05, ND_(—)10, and ND_(—)15, respectively) are 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5, respectively.

FIG. 13 shows the reflection spectra of the optical filter elements according to this example. The color difference in the reflected light colors between ND_(—)00 (A) an ND_(—)05 (B) was 1.949. The color difference in the reflected light colors between ND_(—)05 (B) and ND_(—)10 (C) was 0.196. The color difference in the reflected light colors between ND_(—)10 (C) and ND_(—)15 (D) was 2.171. The largest color difference in the reflected light colors among the four regions was the color difference between ND_(—)05 (B) and ND_(—)15 (D), that is, 2.360. To calculate the color differences, the CIE 2000 color difference formula was used, D₆₅ was used as the light source, and a 10-degree visual field was used as a condition.

The optical filter according to this example will further be explained with reference to FIG. 10 that is a sectional view of the optical filter according to this example. The optical filter according to this example has a structure in which films are stacked on a substrate. The substrate includes first to nth regions. First to ith films having first to ith optical densities are stacked on at least one of the obverse surface and the reverse surface of the substrate. Here, n is an integer (n≧2), and i is an integer (1≦i≦n).

More specifically, the optical filter shown in FIG. 10 has a structure in which first to fourth films A′ to D′ are stacked on a PET substrate G. The first to fourth films A′ to D′ have predetermined optical densities, more specifically, first to fourth optical densities. Additional films may be stacked in the optical filter. For example, additional films E′ and F′ are stacked in the optical filter shown in FIG. 10.

The PET substrate G includes first to fourth regions. In the ith region of the PET substrate G, first to ith films are stacked on at least one of the obverse surface and the reverse surface of the PET substrate G. In the example of FIG. 10, the first region corresponds to the optical filter element A, where the first film A′ is stacked. The second region corresponds to the optical filter element B, where the first film A′ and the second film B′ are stacked. The third region corresponds to the optical filter element C, where the first to third films A′ to C′ are stacked. The fourth region corresponds to the optical filter element D, where the first to fourth films A′ to D′ are stacked.

The deposition method of the optical filter according to this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows deposition masks, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the optical filter according to this example.

First, a deposition mask 30 a having an opening of a shape to deposit on the PET substrate G is set. The deposition mask 30 a is attached to a deposition umbrella while setting the surface of the deposition mask 30 a facing downward. The deposition umbrella rotates at a predetermined speed at the time of deposition so as not to change the film thickness or substrate temperature depending on the set position. The deposition umbrella is set in the deposition apparatus. When a predetermined temperature and a predetermined degree of vacuum are obtained, a crucible with a deposition material is heated to deposit a film up to a predetermined film thickness. Thin films of a plurality of layers are thus stacked, thereby forming the film A′.

In this example, the optical density of the optical filter element A is almost 0. For this reason, TiO₂ and SiO₂ that rarely absorb visible light were used as the material of the film A′. As other materials that rarely absorb visible light, for example, MgF₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, LaTiO₃, ZrO₂, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, and the like are usable.

After the film A′, the substrate was unloaded from the deposition apparatus, the deposition mask 30 a was exchanged with a deposition mask 30 b, and the film B′ was formed, like the film A′. The film B′ was obtained by stacking a plurality of layers of SiO₂ serving as a dielectric film and TiO_(x) serving as a light absorption film. As another dielectric film material, for example, MgF₂, Al₂O₃, SiO, MgO, LaTiO₃, ZrO₂, or the like may be used. As another light absorption film material, a metal or alloy or an oxide or nitride thereof such as Ti, Ni, Cr, NiCr, NiFe, or Nb is usable.

After formation of the film B′, the substrate was unloaded from the deposition apparatus again, and the deposition mask 30 b was exchanged with a deposition mask 30 c. The film C′ was formed, like the film B′.

After formation of the film C′, the substrate was unloaded from the deposition apparatus again, and the deposition mask 30 c was exchanged with a deposition mask 30 d. The film D′ was formed, like the film C′.

After formation of the film D′, the deposition mask 30 d was exchanged with the deposition mask 30 a again, and SiO₂ (E′) serving as an anti-reflection film was formed. As the material of the anti-reflection film, a material having a low refractive index is preferable. Alternatively, MgF₂ or the like is suitable.

After deposition of the films A′ to E′, the substrate was turned upside down, and F′ serving as an anti-reflection film was formed. The same material as A′ was used for F′.

The optical filter according to this embodiment has been described above. However, the structure of the optical filter according to this embodiment is not limited to that shown in FIG. 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, films having a light absorption characteristic may be provided on both surfaces of a transparent substrate. The optical filter elements, that is, the regions of ND_(—)00, ND_(—)05, ND_(—)10, and ND_(—)15 in the example may independently be provided on the optical filter. That is, the optical filter according to the embodiment may include a plurality of regions having different light transmittances, and the plurality of regions need only have reflected light colors that substantially equal.

Third Embodiment

An imaging optical system 20 including the above-described light amount adjusting device 9 is usable in an image capturing apparatus. The image capturing apparatus including the imaging optical system 20 can reduce the sense of discomfort given to the photographer upon switching the optical filter in accordance with the luminance of an object. Examples of the image capturing apparatus capable of including the imaging optical system 20 are a video camera and a digital still camera.

FIG. 8 showing the schematic arrangement of a video camera as an example of the image capturing apparatus. A video camera body 51 includes the above-described imaging optical system 20 including a lens 1, a light amount adjusting device 9, and an image sensor 7. A camera control circuit (not shown) determines the light amount based on a photoelectric conversion signal from the image sensor 7, and switches the filter provided in the light amount adjusting device 9 in accordance with the determination result, and adjusts the light amount. A liquid crystal monitor 55 is provided on a side surface of the video camera body 51 so as to be open/closed. A viewfinder 56 is used to observe an object image captured by the image sensor 7.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention, the following claims are made.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1, 4-6 . . . lens     -   2 a, 2 b . . . diaphragm blade     -   3 . . . optical filter     -   7 . . . image sensor     -   8 . . . light amount control unit     -   9 . . . light amount adjusting device     -   10-13 . . . optical filter     -   15 . . . driving unit     -   20 . . . imaging optical system     -   30 a-30 d . . . mask     -   51 . . . video camera body     -   55 . . . liquid crystal monitor     -   56 . . . viewfinder 

1. A light amount adjusting device comprising a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances, wherein reflected light colors from the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.
 2. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflected light colors from image sensor-side surfaces of the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.
 3. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the light amount adjusting device comprises four optical filter elements.
 4. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein reflection spectra of the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.
 5. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a color difference between the reflected light colors from the image sensor-side surfaces of the plurality of optical filter elements is not more than
 10. 6. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 5, wherein the color difference between the reflected light colors from the image sensor-side surfaces of the plurality of optical filter elements is not more than
 5. 7. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a color difference between the reflected light colors from the image sensor-side surfaces of two optical filter elements having light transmittances close to each other out of the plurality of optical filter elements is not more than
 5. 8. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical filter elements are held on a single substrate and constructed as one optical filter.
 9. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 8, wherein the substrate includes first to nth regions (n is an integer; n≧2), and first to ith films having first to ith optical densities are stacked on at least one of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the substrate in an ith (1≦i≦n) region.
 10. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical filter elements are constructed as separate members.
 11. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, further comprising moving means for inserting and retracting each of the plurality of optical filter elements into and from an optical path.
 12. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical filter elements include at least one ND filter and at least one AR filter.
 13. The light amount adjusting device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of optical filter elements include three ND filters and one AR filter.
 14. A light amount adjusting device comprising at least three ND filter elements having different light transmittances, wherein all of reflected light colors from each of the at least three ND filter elements are substantially equal.
 15. An imaging optical system comprising the light amount adjusting device according to claim
 1. 16. An image capturing apparatus comprising an imaging optical system, wherein the imaging optical system comprises a light amount adjusting device, the light amount adjusting device comprises a plurality of optical filter elements having different light transmittances, and reflected light colors from the plurality of optical filter elements are substantially equal.
 17. An imaging optical system comprising the light amount adjusting device according to claim
 14. 18. An image capturing apparatus comprising the imaging optical system according to claim
 17. 